Television device

Abstract

A television device and a method of controlling the television device with a user interface. The television device has an output circuit for outputting audio and video signals and is operable in a normal mode outputting an audio signal and a video signal and in an audio descriptor mode outputting an audio signal additionally including an audio description of images contained in the video signal. The user interface has a plurality of actuable regions/buttons with respective user interface surfaces, the regions/buttons including at least one tactile region/button having a tactile identifier on its respective user interface surface. The television device is controlled to switch between the normal mode and the audio descriptor mode in response to the at least one tactile region/button being actuated in a predetermined way, such as for at least a predetermined time.

1 . A television device including:
 an output circuit configured to output audio and video signals for reproduction;   a controller configured to control at least the output device and configured to operate selectively in either a normal mode or an audio descriptor mode; and   a user interface having an actuation area with a plurality of individually actuable regions and at least one tactile identifier identifying a corresponding tactile region; wherein   in the normal mode, the controller controls the output circuit to output an audio signal and a video signal and, in the audio descriptor mode, the controller controls the output circuit to output the audio signal additionally including an audio description of images contained in the video signal; and   the controller is configured to switch between the normal mode and the audio descriptor mode in response to the at least one tactile region being actuated in a predetermined way.   
     
     
         2 . A television device according to  claim 1  wherein the predetermined way is at least one of for at least a predetermined time and being actuated in quick succession a plurality of times. 
     
     
         3 . A television device according to  claim 1  further including:
 a receiver configured to receive television signals containing audio data and video data of corresponding audio/video sequences and also containing supplementary audio data for audio description of respective audio/video sequences; wherein   in the audio descriptor mode, the controller controls the output circuit to output audio signals including the audio data and the supplementary audio data.   
     
     
         4 . A television device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 the output circuit is configured to output video signals including graphical user interface information for display and the audio description included in the audio signal includes an audio description of the content of the graphical user interface information.   
     
     
         5 . A television device according to  claim 4  wherein the graphical user interface information includes an electronic program guide. 
     
     
         6 . A television device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 the controller is configured to control a plurality of functions of the television device other than switching between the normal mode and the audio descriptor mode in response to actuation of said plurality of actuable regions and is configured to control a respective one of the plurality of functions in response to actuation of the at least one tactile region other than in said predetermined way.   
     
     
         7 . A television device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 the controller is configured to control the output circuit to output, when the controller switches between the normal mode and the audio descriptor mode, an audio signal contains an audible confirmation of the switch of mode.   
     
     
         8 . A television device according to  claim 1  wherein the tactile identifier comprises at least one of a recess and a protrusion. 
     
     
         9 . A television device according to  claim 1  wherein the actuation area includes, as the plurality of individually actuable regions, a plurality of actuable buttons with respective user interface surfaces, the buttons including at least one tactile button having a tactile identifier on its respective user interface surface. 
     
     
         10 . A television device according to  claim 9  wherein the tactile identifier is a standard identifier for instance as defined in European Standard ES 201384. 
     
     
         11 . A television device according to  claim 9  wherein said plurality of buttons are push buttons which are actuable by pressing on respective user interface surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . A television device according to  claim 9  wherein the plurality of buttons include an array of three-by-three buttons assigned to numerals  1 - 9  and the central button in the said at least one tactile button and is assigned to numeral  5 . 
     
     
         13 . A television device according to  claim 1  wherein the user interface is a remote control device. 
     
     
         14 . A television device according to  claim 1  wherein the television device is a set-top box device configured to provide audio and video signals to an audio transducer and a television display respectively. 
     
     
         15 . A television device according to  claim 1  wherein the television device includes an audio transducer and a television display configured to reproduce the audio and video signals respectively. 
     
     
         16 . A method of controlling a television device with a user interface, the television device having an output circuit for outputting audio and video signals and being operable in a normal mode outputting an audio signal and a video signal and in an audio descriptor mode outputting an audio signal additionally including an audio description of images contained in the video signal and the user interface having an actuation area with a plurality of individually actuable regions and at least one tactile identifier identifying a corresponding tactile region, the method including:
 controlling the television device to switch between the normal mode and the audio descriptor mode in response to the at least one tactile region being actuated in a predetermined way.